Ice-cutting machine



Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. SCHOLZ.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2.1917.

Patented Feb.17,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- amen KM JSo/vo /2 UNITED STATES PATENT onnron.

JOSEF SCI-IOLZ, 0F BASIN, WYOMING.

ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 2, 1917. Serial No. 199,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnr SOHOLZ, a citito provide a machine of theabove mentioned character adapted to be disposed across a channel in anice field for cutting into cakes a strip of ice which is floatinglysupported in the channel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice cutting machine ofthis character, which is formed with a stationary supporting frame,carrying a drive shaft, and a swinging frame on the lower end of whichis mounted a circular saw operatively connected'with the drive shaft,said swinging frame being manually movable across the channel to cut thestrip of ice therein, into cakes.

- gage whereby the length of the cake out is g id gage being adjustableby means of a pivoted lever disposed within easy reach of the operatorof the machine.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter, which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive tomanufacture, and one which will'be very eflicientin operation.

With these and numerous other objects in View, my invention consists ofthe novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, which will be herein re ferred to and more particularly pointedout in the specification and claims.

In he accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;i

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same,with the protecting covers brokenaway;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectio through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lowler end of the adjustableswinging frame; an

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The ice cutting machine comprises a stationary supporting frame, whichis formed of a pair of parallel spaced V-shaped sta-nd ards 1, which areprovided with transverse cross strips 2, the base strips 3 projectingbeyond the standards 1, and having additional fastening means 4, forsecuring the same to the upper surface of the ice on opposite sides of achannel 3 which is cut through the ice and in which is adapted to befloatably supported a. strip of ice 4. The two spaced standards 1 areconnected by connecting bars 5, disposed adjacent the apex, and bases ofthe same.

Carried by the main supporting frame, is a rotatably mounted drive shaft6, which is mounted in bearings 7 supported adjacent the apex of thestandards as shown at 8, and said drive shaft has mounted thereon nearone end, which projects from one of the side standards 1, a pulley 9,which has trained thereover a drive belt 10, that is connected with somesuitable source of driving power. The pulley is provided with a clutch11, operable by a lever 1 12', which is pivotally mounted on theadjacent side standard 1, and has its lower end disposed adjacent oneside of the machine, within easy reach of the operator. Between the sidestandards 1, is mounted a fly wheel 13 on the drive shaft 6.

The clutch 11 includes an annular channel to receive the lever 12 whenthe latter swings upon its pivot, and the pivot is capable of permittingthe lever to swing in two directions, as shown, so that after it hasbeen turned in one direction on its pivot to dispose the lever withinthe annular channel of the clutch, the lower end of the lever is movedoutwardly to cause the slidable portion of the clutch to be movedinwardly, or toward the pulley 9, to close the clutch. When not in usethe lever 12 hangs idly.

A swinging frame 14 which is formed of pairs of parallel side bars 15,is mounted between the side standards 1, and is loosely carried by thedrive shaft 6, by bearing Patented Feb. 1'7, 1920i clearly shown in Fig.4 of the drawings, and

" having loops formed at their opposite ends surrounding the adjacentbars 15, and provided with set screws 18, to lock said bars in variouslongitudinally adjusted positions.

This adjustment however is very slight, it

being merely necessary to adjust the swinging frame 1 1 to a very slightdegree. The drive shaft 6 has a sprocket wheel 19 mounted thereonbetween the side bars 15 of the swinging frame 14, for a purpose to behere inafter more fully described.

On the lower extremities of the side bars 15 of the frame 14:, arealining bearing members 20, through which is mounted a driven shaft 21,carrying a sprocket wheel 22 between the bars of the frame, and thesprocket wheel 22, and sprocket 19 on the drive shaft 6, are connectedby a chain 23. The shaft 21 projects from one side of the swinging frame1 1, and has mounted thereon a circular saw 24. If desired any number ofthese saws may be employed. The swinging frame 14:, is provided with aprojecting handle 25, which extends through one end of the mainsupporting frame, and is within easy reach of the operator, so that itmay be grasped to move the swinging frame, and saw across the strip ofice 4 for cutting the latter'into cakes.

The machine is provided with a gage which regulates the length of thecake out, which comprises an upright iron bar 26, that is slidablymounted through a bracket 27 secured to one of the cross strips 2, thatsupports one of the side standards 1. This strip is provided with anenlarged upper end 28, and has its lower end flattened as shown at 29,said flattened lower end being comiected to the inner end of anoperating lever 30 projecting through one end of the frame and disposedadjacent the handle 25, only at the opposite side of the machinetherefrom. One end of the machine, from which the lever projects andwhich may be called the front of the machine, is provided withprotecting covers 31 and 32 which are mounted on the connecting bars 5at said end of the machine, and which prevent the operator from beingsplashed during the cutting operation, as well as affording a protectlonfor the gearing at the top of the machine.

The mode of operation of the present invention may be reviewed asfollows:

Assuming that the machine has been constructed in the manner shown anddescribed, the machine is connected with any desired motive power,preferably a gas engine, or

electrical motor, that operates the belt 10 which may be guided intoengagement with the ice by the handle 25, which regulates the movementof the swinging frame 14:. This to swing back and forth within themachine,

and into engagement with the strip of ice,

as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. The circular saw willcut the strip of ice 4; into cakes, it being obvious that the ice row ismoved correspondingly after each cake has been cut. 1 Y

Attention is directed to the fact that the operating lever for theswinging frame, the control lever for the clutch and the gage lever allproject from the front end of the machine and are disposed within easyreach of the operator. The swinging frame 1 1 is adjustablelongitudinally as has been described, a slight adjustment beingnecessary, as is obvious, but when desired the frame may be adjusted toincrease the radius of the saw, by inserting a longer length chainbetween the sprocket wheels.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had,and while I have shown and described the device as embodying a specificstructure, I desire that it be understood that 'field, a main shaftrotatably mounted in the frame near the upper end thereof, another framethe sides of which consist of relatively adjustable sections, cross barsarranged between the sectionsand designed for engagement thereabout,means cooperating with the cross bars for clampin the sections in arelatively adjusted position, means for pivotally supporting theadjustable frame on the main shaft, another shaft j ournaled in thelower portion of the adjustable swinging frame, transmission means frame14 is mounted to act as a pendulum V arranged between these shafts, asaw carried by the last mentioned shaft, a handle connected to theswinging frame for moving said frame across the channel so that the sawwill act on a strip of ice supported in the channel, a gage slidablyconnected to the main frame for releasably holding the strip of ice andfor regulating the length of the ice cake cut by the saw, and a leverswingably connected to the main frame and connected to the gage forraising and lowering the gage.

2. An ice cutting machine including a main stationary supporting frameadapted to be disposed across a channel in an ice field, a main shaftrotatably mounted in the frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally supportedfrom the main shaft and having sides consisting of relatively adjustablesections,

cross bars arranged between the sections and designed for engagementthereabout, means cooperating with the cross bars for clamp ing thesections in a relatively adjusted position, a saw carrying shaftjournaled in the lower portion of the auxiliary frame and rotated fromthe main shaft, means permit ting said auxiliary frame to be movedacross the channel so that the saw will act upon a strip of icesupported in the channel, and means connected with the main frame forreleasably holding the strip of ice and for regulating the length of theice cake cut by the saw.

In testimony whereof I afl'lx my signature hereto.

osEF SOHOLZ.

